Dead-end connector



p 5, 1967 H. w. TIERNAN, JR 3,340,351

DEAD-END CONNECTOR Filed-Dec. 15, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 N VEN TOR.

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DEAD-END CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 15, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [N VENTOR. HENRY MLUAM YERNAN'JR BY w;

United States Patent 3,340,351 DEAD-END CONNECTOR Henry William Tiernan, Jr., King of Prussia, Pa., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Dec. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 418,448 2 Claims. (Cl. 174-79) This invention generally relates to electrical connectors, and particularly relates to dead-end connectors for anchoring transmission line cables to a support structure.

High power transmission lines usually include a steel reinforcing core wire or wires surrounded by spirallywound strands of aluminum wire for carrying current. An example of this is ACSR. Other high power transmission lines include spirally-wound strands of aluminum or other electrically-conductive metal which constitute a cable. These cables are commonly called AAC and AAAC.

The present disclosure constitutes further development in the high tensile splice means for ACSR wire, as shown and described in Patent No. 3,052,750, High Tensile Splice, and Patent No. 3,125,630, Electrical Connector, both of which are assigned to the present assignee. This disclosure also shows a connection to the aluminum stranded cable, as described above.

It is common practice in dead-end connections for ACSR wire to use a multi-sleeve connector member wherein one sleeve joins the outer strands of a cable to constitute the electrical connection, and another sleeve joins the core wire to provide the mechanical connection. In some cases, the sleeves are separately connected to a common mounting bolt on the support structure. One major disadvantage of this type of connector is that the longitudinal stresses between the outer cable strands and the core wire are not equal. This results in an unbalanced strain on the transmission line. Further, this type of connector is difficult to apply to a cable by virtue of its construction.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a dead-end connector means wherein the steel core reinforcing wire and outer conductor wires of a transmission cable are joined to one sleeve of a connector. This insures equal strain on the cable members.

Another object is to provide a dead-end connector with a clevis on one end thereof to allow the connector to be mounted onto a support structure. Another object is that of providing .a dead-end connector, as described above, having a ring formed integrally with the clevis to permit the attachment of a tensioning device.

Still another object is to provide a dead-end connector with a clevis having a ring portion and ferrule which can be formedby standard extrusion techniques. This will result in low cost connectors of uniform construction.

A further object is to provide a dead-end connector, as described above, with means to allow a tap-elf or jumper wire to be taken therefrom.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration and principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a dead-end connector in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partially-sectioned side elevational view of the connector of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the connector attached to a support member with a cable being brought into engagement therewith;

FIGURE 4 shows a completed connection;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the connector attached to a cable and showing it being brought into engagement with a support structure; and

FIGURE 6 is a view generally similar to FIGURE 2 but showing a tap-off wire taken from the connector.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, the connector includes a tubular metal ferrule F, a clevis C, and a joining pin P by which the ferrule is secured to the clevis. Ferrule F includes a plurality of frangible powder metal inserts I, a conical washer 11 defining an easy entry means for core wire 14 to enter inserts I, a spacer 3 and inhibitor 5 which acts as a corrosion-resistant agent disposed therein. Spacer 3 and detent 7 hold inserts I in axial position inside ferrule F. Spacer 3 has a passageway 9 therethrough to receive the end of core wire 14. The inserts are crushed, upon crimping, into small particles which bite into the core wire of the cable and metal ferrule F to provide a high tensile connection between the cable and connector, as disclosed in the previously-mentioned patents.

Metal ferrule F is mechanically secured to a clevis member C by crimping the ferlule onto pin P which extends from clevis C. This assembly constitutes a dead-end connector.

The clevis C includes a generally U-shaped extruded aluminum member having perforated ends to receive a mounting bolt B by which it is attached to a support structure S, such as, a power pole or telephone pole via an insulating means IM. An integral ring R projects outwardly from one sidewall of clevis C by which a block and tackle may be attached to the connector. A hole 4 is machined or otherwise formed into base 6 of clevis C through which pin P protrudes. One end of this pin is flanged at 8 to hold it in hole 4 in the clevis. The protruding end 10 of pin P has serrations or grooves 2 there around to provide added tensile strength to the connector when ferrule F is crimped to end 10 of the pin. This added tensile holds the assembled connector together.

In use, the assembled connector is fastened to insulating means IM of support structure S by mounting bolt B on clevis C, FIGURE 3. The end of a transmission cable T is prepared by cutting away a predetermined length of outer strands 12 to expose steel core 14. The cable end is then aligned with the connector. One end of a block and tackle ET is fastened near the end of the cable while the other end thereof is connected to ring R whereafter the cable is drawn tightly into connector ferrule F, FIG- URE 3. During this tightening action, the end of ferrule F is cocked upwardly, FIGURE 3, to allow suflicient space between ferrule F and the block and tackle for the jaws of a crimping tool. The ferrule is then crimped to form a high tensile electrical connection, in accordance with conventional crimping techniques, as outlined in the aforementioned patents to form a completed assembly, as shown in FIGURE 4.

An alternate procedure for installing the connector is shown in FIGURE 5 wherein the prepared cable end is crimped to ferrule F before the connector is attached to insulating means IM of support structure S. In this case, one end of the block and tackle is fastened to support structure S, and the other end is fastened to ring R on the connector. The connector is then drawn tightly into alignment with the insulating means and fastened thereto by mounting bolt B.

An alternate application of the present invention is a case wherein a tap-off or jumper wire I is taken from a connector on one side of support structure S to an identical connector on the other side of the support structure.

In an application of this type, aluminum transmission cable T having no reinforcing core is generally used. In this case, one end of ferrule F is inserted into hole 4- in clevis C and subsequently riveted at 8 as shown. With the connector in place on support structure S, the transmission cable is fed through ferrule F. When proper tension is pulled onto the cable by means of the block and tackle arrangement of FIGURE 3, ferrule F is crimped by a suitable crimping tool to provide a mechanical and electrical connection. The cable is continued through the connector, around the support structure to the other side defining jumper wire I where it is crimped or otherwise fastened to another connector.

In this type of application, ferrule F has a perforated liner L and inhibitor 5 disposed therein. Liner L is made of aluminum which is harder than that of ferrule F, and is adapted to cut or scrape metal of the cable and metal of the ferrule during crimping. By this means, a secure mechanical and electrical connection is achieved between the connector and transmission cable T. Inhibitor 5' is a corrosion-impedance agent.

In FIGURE 6, the distance between riveted end 8' and mounting bolt B may be increased to allow sufiicient space for jumper wire I to extend from the connector. It should be noted that there is no axial strain on tap-off or jumper wire I. If desired, cable T may be crimped about half-way within ferrule F, and jumper wire I placed in the remaining part of ferrule F and crimped thereto.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown and described herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector for connecting soft conductive metal cable having a hard core wire to a support means comprising a ferrule member of soft metal similar to said soft metal cable, frangible metal inserts along one section of an inside surface of said ferrule member, said one section being located inwardly from one end of said ferrule member, said metal inserts having central apertures to receive said hard core wire, said ferrule member having another section from the one end thereof to said one section for receiving a portion of said soft metal cable therein, said metal inserts upon crimping pressure being applied to said one section of said ferrule member being fractured into small pieces thereby becoming embedded in said soft metal ferrule member and said hard core wire and said other section upon crimping pressure being applied thereto being compressed into high pressure engagement with said portion of said soft metal cable to provide a high tensile connection between said ferrule member and said cable, a clevis member at the other end of said ferrule member and having a hole extending therethrough in alignment with said ferrule member, pin

means extending through said hole and having a head in engagement with said clevis member and a section provided with an uneven surface onto which said ferrule member is crimped thereby securing said clevis member and said ferrule member together, fastening means provide-d by said clevis member to secure the connector to said support means, and integral ring means extending outwardly from a section of said clevis member for engagement by tightening means to bring said cable into said sections of said ferrule member for crimping with said connector secured on said support means by said fastening means or to move said connector crimped onto said cable into engagement with said support means for securing thereto by said fastening means.

2. An electrical connector for joining conductive metal cable to a support means and to provide a jumper cable comprising a hollow ferrule member of metal similar to said metal cable, a thin perforated liner of similar but harder metal extending along a section of an interior surface of said ferrule member, one end of said ferrule member having a flange member, a clevis member having a hole extending therethrough, said ferrule member being disposed through said hole with said flange member in engagement with said clevis member thereby forming an assembled connector, said cable being threaded through said ferrule member with said section of said cable being crimped to said section of said cable upon crimping pressure being applied along said ferrule member and said section thereof carrying said perforated liner with said perforated liner being embedded in said ferrule member and said cable to provide a high tensile connection, another section of said cable extending outwardly from said flanged end of said ferrule member defining said jumper cable, fastening means provided by said clevis member to secure the connector to said support means, and integral ring means extending outwardly from a section of said clevis member for engagement by tightening means to bring said cable into said ferrule member for crimping with said connector secured on said support means by said fastening means or to move said connector crimped onto said cable into engagement with said support means for securing thereto by said fastening means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,698 12/ 1964 Cobaugh 1749() 2,008,227 7/ 1935 Reilly 24-123 2,251,189 7/1941 Jensen.

2,879,321 3/1959 Nilsson 17479 2,902,537 9/1959 Salvi 174-79 3,130,261 4/ 1964 McCreery 174-79 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,382,034- 11/1964 France.

DARRELL L. CLAY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,340 ,351 September 5 1967 Henry William Tiernan, Jr.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below D l n Signed and sealed this 20th day of August 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING SOFT CONDUCTIVE METAL CABLE HAVING A HARD CORE WIRE TO A SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING A FERRULE MEMBER OF SOFT METAL SIMILAR TO SAID SOFT METAL CABLE, FRANGIBLE METAL INSERTS ALONG ONE SECTION OF AN INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID FERRULE MEMBER, SAID ONE SECTION BEING LOCATED INWARDLY FROM ONE END OF SAID FERRULE MEMBER, SAID METAL INSERTS HAVING CENTRAL APERTURES TO RECEIVE SAID HARD CORE WIRE, SAID FERRULE MEMBER HAVING ANOTHER SECTION FROM THE ONE END THEREOF TO SAID ONE SECTION FOR RECEIVING A PORTION OF SAID SOFT METAL CABLE THEREIN, SAID METAL INSERTS UPON CRIMPING PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO SAID ONE SECTION OF SAID FERRULE MEMBER BEING FRACTURED INTO SMALL PIECES THEREBY BECOMING EMBEDDED IN SAID SOFT METAL FERRULE MEMBER AND SAID HARD CORE WIRE AND SAID OTHER SECTION UPON CRIMPING PRESSURE BEING APPLIED THERETO BEING COMPRESSED INTO HIGH PRESSURE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PORTION OF SAID SOFT METAL CABLE TO PROVIDE A HIGH TENSILE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID FERRULE MEMBER AND SAID CABLE, A CLEVIS MEMBER AT THE OTHER END OF SAID FERRULE MEMBER AND HAVING A HOLE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FERRULE MEMBER, PIN MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HOLE AND HAVING A HEAD IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CLEVIS MEMBER AND A SECTION PROVIDED WITH AN UNEVEN SURFACE ONTO WHICH SAID FERRULE MEMBER IS CRIMPED THEREBY SECURING SAID CLEVIS MEMBER AND SAID FERRULE MEMBER TOGETHER, FASTENING MEANS PROVIDED BY SAID CLEVIS MEMBER TO SECURE THE CONNECTOR TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND INTEGRAL RING MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM A SECTION OF SAID CLEVIS MEMBER FOR ENGAGEMENT BY TIGHTENING MEANS TO BRING SAID CABLE INTO SAID SECTIONS OF SAID FERRULE MEMBER FOR CRIMPING WITH SAID CONNECTOR SECURED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS BY SAID FASTENING MEANS OR TO MOVE SAID CONNECTOR CRIMPED ONTO SAID CABLE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR SECURING THERETO BY SAID FASTENING MEANS. 